Dan Hamhuis retires after 16 NHL seasons

Former Nashville Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis is hanging up his skates after 16 NHL seasons.

"Happily going into retirement now from hockey," the 37-year-old said Thursday, according to TSN1040 Vancouver. "Feel real at peace with it."

The 6-foot-1 veteran said he made the decision in February to either play one year in Europe for the family experience or retire, and the COVID-19 pandemic took the former option off the table.

Hamhuis was drafted by the Predators in 2001 and spent his first six NHL seasons with the club. He then played six seasons for the Vancouver Canucks and two for the Dallas Stars before returning to Nashville on a two-year deal ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

The British Columbia native tallied eight assists over 60 games with the Predators this season. He ranks seventh all time in games played (600) for the franchise.

Over 1,148 NHL contests, Hamhuis racked up 59 goals and 356 points while averaging 21:21 of ice time per game.

He also earned a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.